Changsha Tongguan Ceramics Exhibition will be opened in Changsha on Sept 20

On Sept 20, Changsha Tongguan Ceramics Exhibition held by Changsha Huxiang Cultural Exchange Association will be opened in Changsha Planning Exhibition Hall. At that time, nearly 300 pieces of works of more than 50 masters from Tongguan county of Wangcheng district in the fields of ceramics, calligraphy and painting, and inscriptions.

This exhibition includes four themes: “The Vessel”, “The Pot”, “The Pottery Drum” and “The Peaceful China”. It will be held in Changsha Planning Exhibition Hall from Sept 20 to 25 and in Wangcheng District Government Affairs Center from Sept 28 to Oct 18. It is free to the public.

Ding (a kind of ancient cooking vessel) is a national treasure, witnessing civilization and spreading culture, which symbolizes the supreme authority in the Chinese nation. At present, the Chinese nation stands among the nations of world with a strong national strength and unity. This is the greatest era of our five-thousand-year civilization. In order to eulogize the great era and the pioneers, Mr. Jin Hehao, a famous young sculptor, has elaborately created two Ding, “Long Live Motherland of China” and “Red Ding Inscription”. Each one is 128 centimeters high and 80 centimeters in diameter, which is the largest pottery Ding in China. The inscription was written by Mr. Jiang Quandu. The well-known young seal engraver Mr. Ye Weiping carved the inscription and decorated the Ding with peace doves, Chinese zodiac and Capricorn fish, combining the world peace messenger with Chinese Ding culture, Chinese zodiac culture, dragon totem, inscription and seal cutting, which fully displays the integration of international vision and national culture.

Pot and tea are inseparable, while there is also a deep historical origin between pot and pottery. Pot is part of Chinese culture as well. The teapot is composed of lid, body, bottom and ring foot. The body has a mouth for pouring water. Since ancient times, if there are cracks in the bottom of the pot, which is considered a waste product. However, Mr. Jin Hehao has reversed the “theorem” of thousands of years. Even if there is a crack in the bottom, it won’t leak. He integrated modern technology into pottery pots by carving the head of the Chinese zodiac portraits on the top of the handle and leaving a small mouth which links to the pot belly. What’s most amazing is that beside the spout of Jin Hehao’s Chinese zodiac pot, there is a mouth about five millimeters in diameter in the center of the bottom. After filling the pot with tea, the bottom mouth doesn’t leak. When you cover the sprout of the handle, the fragrant tea will flow out.

Happiness is the dream of everyone; Peace is the cornerstone of happiness. “Vase” and “peace” are homophonic in Chinese (both are pronounced ‘ping’). “The Peaceful China” took a vase as the carrier and 56 ethnic groups of China as its theme. It is jointly created by Mr. Ye Weiping, a seal-cutting artist, and Mr. Li Jianwei, a pottery artist, presenting the beautiful homeland of national unity, peace and harmony in China. 56 ethnic groups gather to wish the motherland peace. The representative costumes, characteristics and posture of each ethnic group are presented on the vase surface. The glaze color is pure, the fambe is natural and fluent, and the shape is exquisite and vivid. With the exquisite ceramic surface printing, the vase is another masterpiece of cross-boundary art of seal cutting and ceramic.

“The Pottery Drum” is one of the highlights of this mass cultural activity. With a diameter of 160 centimeters, the drum is the largest-diameter pottery drum in China. The clay in Tongguan county was used as the raw material, and the drum was made with traditional handmade pottery technique. The surface of the drum adopted the unified mark of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of New China. Drum body was decorated by the patterns of Tian’anmen, which symbolizes the capital of China, and the Great Wall, which symbolizes the impregnability of China. The 56 rivets around the drum are the symbol of the unity of 56 ethnic groups; the seven drum rings stand for the 70th anniversary of founding of New China; the four dragons and five drum stools represent the rivers and seas in motherland. The whole shape symbolizes the prosperity and strength of our great motherland with “drum”. We are about to embark on a new journey. The drum encourages the people to raise their sails, forge ahead, stay true to the mission and make another splendid achievement. It was produced by Liu Zili, Xie Fuxiang, Li Ren and etc.